Regional theatre operator buys VPP’s Sinatra show for next season

The management at Victoria Playhouse Petrolia, looking back what has turned out to be a very successful season, are obviously thinking about one of Frank Sinatra’s signature songs, calling it “a very good year.”

Indeed, so much so that a regional theatre was so smitten with the VPP’s final show–The Songs of Sinatra–that the production will be featured at the Drayton Festival Theatre.

When Alex Mustakis, a friend and colleague of VPP co-artistic directors David Rogers and David Hogan, saw the show, it led to talks that ultimately led to the deal.

Mustakis is artistic director for Drayton Entertainment, an organization that in addition to the Drake Festival Theatre includes Huron Country Playhouse and Playhouse II in Grand Bend, St. Jacob’s Country Playhouse, St. Jacob’s Schoolhouse Theatre, King’s Wharf Theatre in Penatanguishene and the soon to be opened Dunfield Theatre in Cambridge.

“You give your audience this kind of calibre you will have them coming back and faithful for a very long time,” Mustakis told Hogan and Rogers.

Mustakis has also successfully negotiated to tour another VPP hit—Godspell, which was directed by Hogan.

In the meantime, Victoria Playhouse staff are getting ready to announce the lineup for the 2013 VPP Summer Festival.